It’s been a while since we’ve heard much about Universal’s bloodsucker prequel Dracula: Year Zero. But now it seems to have some fresh momentum with shorts director Gary Shore hired for to bring it to the screen.
Year Zero was a passion project for Alex Proyas, with the Knowing director attached to the movie since at least 2008 when he talked up his vision for the film (less CGI; more character work). But while Proyas developed the film for years and seemingly snagged Sam Worthington’s services in 2010, he put it aside to focus instead on his epic Paradise Lost adaptation. And we know what just happened to that one.
Now Shore, who caused waves in Hollywood thanks to his stylised short/trailer for planned martial arts movie The Cup Of Tears (which you can see below, and which Universal and Working Title are developing into a full-length pic) has been brought it to get the Dracula film to the screen.
Matt Sazama and Burk Sharpless have written the most recent draft of the script, which goes right back to Dracula’s roots – and Bram Stoker’s inspiration for the character – in Prince Vlad of Transylvania. While his reported lust for human claret birthed the mythology, the plan was to cast him more as a tragic figure who gives into darkness for noble reasons.
As for Worthington, it would appear that he’s no longer involved. But like Dracula himself, he could always be back…